Why Do We Feel Fearful? ♦ Toni Shiloh

 

It is my pleasure to present author Toni Shiloh to you here on Whispers in Purple, with a thought-provoking introductory observation, and shares her novella story with us.

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Fear

by Toni Shiloh

Fear freezes us. Imprisons us. In some instances, it alters our true personality. In A Proxy Wedding, my novella in A Spring of Weddings collection, Carly and Damien have to examine why they’re fearful. It’s shaped their career choices, lack of dating, and fear of falling in love.

I wanted them to discover why they were fearful so they could turn it over to God and heal. Isn’t that just like us? We hold on to our fear instead of releasing it to the One who could make it all better. There’s a reason why God cautions us to not be afraid over and over in the Bible. Yet, we still are afraid until we truly surrender the root issue to God.

So what are you afraid of?

About the Book:

Title: A Spring of Weddings
Author: Toni Shiloh and Melissa Wardwell
Publisher: Celebrate Lit
Release date: May 3, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christian
Stand alone
 

Carly James values loyalty and friendship above all. So when her best friend calls asking her to be a proxy bride, she says, ‘yes.’ How hard can it be to say ‘I do’ so that her best friend can be with the one she loves? Only, Carly never counted on the feelings that began to swirl around with the proxy groom.

Damien Nichols likes life lined up from A to Z, but when his best friend calls in a favor, disorder begins to reign. Instead of taking a quick flight to the proxy wedding, he has to take a road trip with the proxy bride. Carly’s free-spirit attitude bumps heads with his meticulous approach to life. As Damien discovers the woman underneath the carefree façade, his emotions become involved.

Will love become real at A Proxy Wedding?

Buy the Book: – http://amzn.to/2opjTko

About the Author: 

 

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.weebly.com.

And at:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116452363653059921235/posts
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh
• Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh
• Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonishiloh
• Blogs I’m part of: http://puttingonthenew.com  ; http://heartwingsblog.com  ; http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com
•  

 

 

A Peek Into a Story's Birth ♦ Johnnie Alexander

What Hope Remembers: The Story Behind the Story

By

Johnnie Alexander

“You might say this is an unexpected story. For years I dreamed of telling Shelby and AJ’s story, and I hoped to tell Brett’s too. But I never expected, never thought, never ever considered telling Amy’s.”

The above is the first paragraph of the novel’s Acknowledgements section for What Hope Remembers, the third story in the Misty Willow Series.

As you can see, I didn’t think much of Amy as the heroine of her own story. She appeared in the first two stories as a vengeful, self-absorbed brat. A perfect villain, yes. But an engaging heroine?

No way!

Thankfully, three close friends and my daughter thought otherwise. They wanted to hear Amy’s story, and they wanted her to have a chance at happiness. I talked about the possibilities with my editor, she gave her go-ahead, and I—still with a bit of reluctance—opened my heart to a troubled and unkind woman trapped by the choices she’d made in the past.

Here’s the secret about villains: they believe they are the heroes of their own stories.

Amy was no different.

She had a voice. She only needed someone to listen.

I thought I knew the pain that crippled her spirit. As readers of Where She Belongs (with AJ and Shelby) and When Love Arrives (with Brett and Dani) know, Amy and Brett’s parents and their cousin AJ’s parents died in an airplane crash when they were all in their teens. This tragic accident devastated each of them.

But I didn’t know until I started writing this story that the crushing pain caused thirteen-year-old Amy to give up her love of riding horses and her love for Gabe Kendall, the stable owner’s nephew.

Years later Gabe comes riding back into Amy’s life on a buckskin mare. He’s also trapped by the past, but together—and by God’s grace—they might be able to create a new future.

I’m grateful for wise friends who cared about Amy even when she was at her most unlovable. And I’m thrilled her story has now been told.

From the Back Cover:

When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she’s crossing bridges she’d burned years before. With all the mistakes she’s made and the uncaring things she’s done–even to her own family–she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.

A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy’s hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.

But the memory of that long-ago kiss just may have the power to reignite a romance that brings out the best in both of them.

Purchase: Link to Online Retailers

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. While relaxing on her Sunshine State patio with her dogs Rugby and Griff, she writes stories that tug at your heartstrings.

In addition to winning the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest (Historical), Johnnie has received several conference awards. Her popular debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller and has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian.

She is marketing director for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference and past president of both the ACFW Memphis and ACFW Central Florida chapters.

Where to Find Johnnie Online 

Website/Blog  

Facebook Profile (Friend or Follow!)

Facebook Author Page    

Twitter

GoodReads

Amazon Author Page

She Walks in Beauty

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4

I'd like to share something that appeared in my e-mailbox some time ago. It was so good, I kept it. Aimed primarily at women, yet everyone can take something from it.

The following was written by Audrey Hepburn, who, in my humble opinion, was one of Hollywood's most beautiful and graceful women.

So just sit back and enjoy Ms. Hepburn's beautiful words.

"Beauty Tips"

For attractive lips, Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, Walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected  in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she  shows.

And the beauty of a woman with passing years-only grows!

There’s nothing I can add to that. Nor would I want to even try.

Prayer: Loving Father, and Creator of all things beautiful, may we all learn to ‘walk in beauty’ according to Your Word as written in the Scripture above so that we may be precious in Your sight. Amen

Our Plans vs God's Plans ♦ Author Cynthia Roemer

Greetings, Whispers in Purple readers!

It is my pleasure to bring you author Cynthia Roemer, who shares a bit of the 'Story Behind the Story' of her new release, Beneath This Same Sky.

Welcome, Cynthia!

Of course you knew I'd find a picture of a PURPLE sky, right?

Our Plans vs God's Plans

by

Cynthia Roemer

Have you ever noticed that the Lord’s plans for our lives often differ from our own? We start off in one direction only to have doors slam shut and another entirely different path open up. There’s a lot of truth in the saying that the Lord moves in mysterious ways. He often takes us down roads we never would have chosen or anticipated for ourselves. Events happen in our lives that totally reshape who we are and how we view life. Tragedy, loss, unexpected changes, new opportunities. God uses the events of our lives to shape us and draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.

In my upcoming historical romance novel, Under This Same Sky, my main character, Becky Hollister, discovers this when tragedy strikes her family, turning her world upside down. Her heartaches cause her to question God’s power and authority and to ask why He allows bad things to happen in our lives. She must work through a lot of anger toward God before she comes to the realization that He is wise and loving and that He wants only the best for us.

The novel’s key verse is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” Under This Same Sky allows readers to walk alongside Becky as she journeys from the depth of anger and bitterness to acceptance and understanding.

Though my novel doesn’t seek to answer the question of why God allows pain and difficulties to infiltrate our lives, it does convey the message that God is able to work all things for our good when we seek Him. No matter what we go through in this life we have the comfort in knowing the Lord walks beside us.

About the Book:

             ~ She thought she’d lost everything ~ Instead she found what she needed most. ~

Illinois ~ 1854

Becky Hollister wants nothing more than to live out her days on the prairie, building a life for herself alongside her future husband. But when a tornado rips through her parents’ farm, killing her mother and sister, she must leave the only home she’s ever known and the man she’s begun to love to accompany her injured father to St. Louis.

Catapulted into a world of unknowns, Becky finds solace in corresponding with Matthew Brody, the handsome pastor back home. But when word comes that he is all but engaged to someone else, she must call upon her faith to decipher her future.

♦ ♦ ♦

About the Author:

Cynthia Roemer is an award-winning inspirational writer with a heart for scattering seeds of hope into the lives of readers. Raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois, Cynthia enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the 1800s prairie. She writes from her family farm in central Illinois where she resides with her husband and their two college-aged sons.

Where to Find Cynthia:

Website:  http://cynthiaroemer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaRoemer/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com@cynthiaroemer 

Where to Buy Cynthia's Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Under-This-Same-Cynthia-Roemer-ebook/dp/B06XZNPSRR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492553688&sr=8-1&keywords=under+this+same+sky+by+cynthia+roemer

Anthony Burger Plays the Theme from Exodus

Most of you may already know that I'm a huge fan of Bill Gaither and his Homecoming family. Every once in a while, I have to go to YouTube to get my Gaither fix.

All their music is beautiful, uplifting, and sometimes downright fun. One of my favorites was their pianist Anthony Burger, an extremely gifted, talented musician. He left this world too soon, too young.

So, to satisfy my hunger for some good music, I once again went to this video. It fascinates me, watching his hands and fingers on those sixty-six white and black keys.

So, I want to share this one with you. Enjoy!

Oh, be sure to have your speakers on :)